The January Transfer Window 2020

[traxop]

So another another CB/DM that has no pace! We need a "Noble" with legs and an engine and we're going for a clone of Rice??

Nay, I think you're confusing him with Joe Allen, hard to think of anyone else that wouldn't have more pace than either Noble or Allen. Now, can he be that someone who links our defence to our attack? I don't know, but we've got to roll the dice.

[bubbles1966]

We were doing ok after we spanked stoke 3-0 , then we didn't win in our final 7-8 games !

It pretty much coincided with Robbie Keane getting fit. On £65k a week, I think Uncle Avram felt obliged to pick him when Demba Ba was obviously the top bloke and ably supported by Piquionne and Sir Carlton.

It was one of those examples, a bit like Hernandez, were the highest paid/ *star* player unbalances the team.

[DannyboyDJL]

Reading the Czech expert is pretty concerning for me. Seems like he's a bit sluggish, doesn't stand out for his passing, his technique isn't great, can be pressed easily, but is good from corners and a good reader of the game.

Not sure that's what we've been looking for, but fingers crossed it works out.

[coyi27]

Sounds a bit like Matic according to snippets from that Czech Footy account. More of a lateral mover and a classy passer than a box to box ball winner.

[HammerMan2004]

Reading the Czech expert is pretty concerning for me. Seems like he's a bit sluggish, doesn't stand out for his passing, his technique isn't great, can be pressed easily, but is good from corners and a good reader of the game.

Not sure that's what we've been looking for, but fingers crossed it works out.

He’s basically the opposite kind of midfielder to what we’ve wanted, but he isn’t Carlos Sanchez so should be signed right now.

[e17]

He has a point about the fans.

Don’t let their press agents blinker you with faux intelligence and reasoning mate.

We’ve been shat on in every conceivable way possible.

Don’t be sucked in by the subtle The Sun-esque codas and lines. It’s the oldest hack trick in the world

[bubbles1966]

It may be that he becomes the holding mid, and Rice gets freed up to drive forward. Every now and then there's the odd glimpse of how that could work (e.g. Sheffield United) .

The third mid would be the orchestrator, the flair.

[S-H]

Reading the Czech expert is pretty concerning for me. Seems like he's a bit sluggish, doesn't stand out for his passing, his technique isn't great, can be pressed easily, but is good from corners and a good reader of the game.

Not sure that's what we've been looking for, but fingers crossed it works out.

His club is the only one to say yes to Sullivan's loan to buy deal.

What we were looking for is irrelevant.

[HammerMan2004]

It may be that he becomes the holding mid, and Rice gets freed up to drive forward. every now and then there's the odd glimpse of how that could work (e.g. Sheffield United) .

The third mid would be the orchestrator, the flair.

Soucek, Rice and Fornals you’d hope.

[bubbles1966]

Soucek, Rice and Fornals you’d hope.

Anderson, maybe?

[coyi27]

Soucek, Rice and Fornals you’d hope.

On paper that looks good, in reality we will see.

[DannyboyDJL]

He’s basically the opposite kind of midfielder to what we’ve wanted, but he isn’t Carlos Sanchez so should be signed right now.

Very true. I'm trying to believe there's more to the signing than this, but I watched his YouTube highlights and he scored about 5 headers in the first minute, which is Moyes/Allardyce food and drink.

But as you say, let's give it a shot.

[Cellar-door]

Soucek, Rice and Fornals you’d hope.

Had the same thought. If the concern with Fornals in a 2 is that he doesn't defend well enough no better way to fix that than make it a 3 with 2 decently mobile DM with the responsibility of winning the ball and moving it up to the wings or Fornals. And given that you're replacing Noble Soucek is a pace upgrade as well which is nice. He covers more ground than Noble by far even if he isn't an Obiang type.

[Burnley Hammer]

We need to concede less.... having a bloke who can defend corners helps

We need to score more. Having a player who offers a Fellaini like danger from set-pieces will help a lot. I know that sounds boring and very Moyes-like but the fact is we need to be taking much greater advantage of scoring opportunites. Corners, free-kicks, open play - it doesn't matter.

Those 2 things alone will be useful. Apart from that, he's young, is known to be an endless runner and full of energy, and most importantly - actually knows where to position himself as a defensive midfielder. I've been regularly reading on here how Rice is struggling because he's being given very little help in that area of the pitch. This will surely help.

And for those that don't like his 3 or 5 at the back system... having a player like this will help us stay defensively solid whilst playing 4-4-2 / 4-3-3 etc

[Burnley Hammer]

His club is the only one to say yes to Sullivan's loan to buy deal.

What we were looking for is irrelevant.

You don't think Moyes wanted this player?

From the tweets earlier:

"If you can have him arriving late to the box, you're arguably set for getting the most added value from him and a cross between Fellaini/peak Kouyaté."

[Cellar-door]

Reading the Czech expert is pretty concerning for me. Seems like he's a bit sluggish, doesn't stand out for his passing, his technique isn't great, can be pressed easily, but is good from corners and a good reader of the game.

Not sure that's what we've been looking for, but fingers crossed it works out.

I think you are misinterpreting what he's saying.

He's saying that he's a runner but not explosive, so his burst is below average but once he gets going he runs well, and that he has remarkable stamina to run all game. That he's a solid passer but not an elite one, and that his technique looks awkward and makes him seem vulnerable to the press, but that in practice he generally does well against it because he identifies the next pass and executes it quickly.

Basically that description makes him sound like Rice but good in the air.

[Georgee Paris]

I think he’s more likely to be Rices replacement rather than to play alongside him.

[One Peter Butler]

Welcome Tomas,........ to the end of your career.

Do the sensible thing and sign for a club with prospects like Torquay.

[S-H]

You don't think Moyes wanted this player?

From the tweets earlier:

"If you can have him arriving late to the box, you're arguably set for getting the most added value from him and a cross between Fellaini/peak Kouyaté."

Who knows with Sullivan, mate.

You'd like to think the manager wants him, though.

[HammerAl]

I guess the biggest questions are, is he what we need and his is enough of an upgrade on what we have? Berge is available for a similar price, although not sure he’d come now. Would still need a RB, LB, AM and ST to have any chance of staying up, so this signing does feel a little pointless without the other reinforcements.